Download Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism
Hinduism - origins
• Originated in India from the literature, traditions &
class system of the Aryan invaders – but had NO single
founder
• Lack of a single founder allowed for evolution over
time & a variety of forms of worship
• The Hindu religion reinforced the existing caste
structure – offering hope for improvement in one’s
social position during reincarnation
• Over time Hinduism eventually spawned the
Buddhist religion
Caste System
Hinduism – Main Beliefs
• Everything in the world is part of the divine essence “Brahma”
• Hindu Gods are manifestations of Brahma – namely Vishnu (the
preserver); Shiva (the destroyer)
• A meaningful life is one that finds union w/ the divine soul – Brahma –
through a process of reincarnation where the soul enters another person
or animal
• Acts in this life will affect one’s placement in their next life (Karma)
• Individuals should follow the Dharma – rules & obligations of one’s
caste – to improve in their next life until the union w/ Brahma is achieved
– Moksha
• Cattle are considered sacred – no consumption of beef
• There is no sacred text, though The Vedas & The Upanishads –
collections of hymns, prayers & poems – guide Hindus
Below- Shiva
Above – Vishnu
Buddhism
Buddhism - Origins
• Buddhism originated in India & was founded by Prince
Siddhartha Gautama (563 – 483 BCE) after a 6 year
process of meditating about the problems of the world
• Gautama determined that human desire was the root of
all problems & began to spread his belief – he became
known as “Buddha” or “The Enlightened One”
• Buddha did NOT consider himself a deity or God
(though others would) & promoted the idea of a “divine
essence”
• After Buddha’s death (483 BCE) Buddhism split into 2
large movements – Theravada (Hinayana) Buddhism &
Mahayana Buddhism
Siddhartha
Gautama
Buddhism – Main Beliefs
• Buddhism stresses self control & equality for all people – complete
opposite of the caste system
• Buddhism also believes in reincarnation & the seeking of a union w/ the
divine essence (“nirvana”) – believed that anyone could find nirvana w/o
any social or caste structure
• There are 4 Noble Truths – all life is suffering; suffering is caused by
desire; there is a way out of suffering; the way out of suffering is the
Eightfold Path
• Buddhists believe people must follow the “Eightfold Path” to achieve
nirvana
•Theravada Buddhism emphasizes meditation, simplicity and a
renunciation of the “self” – Buddha is not considered a god and gods &
goddesses have little significance
• Mahayana Buddhism was much more ritualistic – Buddha was
considered a deity & there were priests & priestesses as well as written
texts
By following the Eightfold Path, people can
reach NIRVANA
Buddhism – Broader Impact
•Buddhism became widely popular in Asia
due to its inclusiveness of all people
regardless of gender, class, race or
ethnicity – all could reach nirvana
• Buddhism is one of the fastest growing
religions in the world today
CONFUCIANISM
Confucianism - Origins
• Emerged out of the Era of Warring States
after the fall of the Zhou Dynasty & was
developed specifically for Chinese culture
in order to reestablish order
• Founded by Confucius (551-478 BCE) – an
educator & political advisor who was
unable to gain high position in gov’t due to
his opposition to many gov’t policies
• Confucius & his followers collected his
thoughts & teachings in The Analects –
which would have a profound impact on
Chinese social & political thought
• Confucianism became widely practiced in
China after 400 BCE – particularly in the
Han Dynasty
• The Han Dynasty based its Civil Service
Exam on The Analects
Confucius
Confucianism – Main Beliefs
• Confucianism is NOT a religion, it is a social &
political philosophy based on moral & ethical
teachings
• Its main concentration was establishment of
political & social order – a practical concern – it
was NOT concerned w/ large philosophical
issues such as salvation or the afterlife
• Confucius argued that gov’t stability depended
on well-educated officials who were able to put
aside personal ambition for the good of the
state (Junzi)
• A sense of kindness (Ren), veneration of
ancestors (Xiao or Filial Piety), respect for
elders (Li), the family & the patriarchal nature of
society were central of Confucianist thought
• The focus was on FIVE (5) main relationships
in which each had specific duties to uphold to
maintain order:
• Ruler & Subject
• Parent & Child
• Husband & Wife
• Older Brother & Younger Brother
• Friend & Friend
Statue of a Junzi
Confucianism – Broader Impact
• B/C Confucianism is NOT a religion, it was
widely compatible w/ other religious belief
systems – this allowed Confucianism to
flourish in Chinese society
• Gov’t readily accepted Confucianism in
China b/c it was intended to create order &
stability
• Confucianism tended to reinforce many of
the existing principles in Chinese society
(Patriarchy, Veneration of Ancestors,
Respect for Elders, Duties &
Responsibilities) & led to extremely tightknit communities
• Confucianism only grew in the context of
Chinese society – both politically & socially
- though many of its principles are
compatible with other cultures
Daoism
Daoism - Origins
• Daoism also emerged out of the
Era of Warring States as a means to
end the chaos & disorder
• It was founded by Lao-zi (Laotsu) sometime in the 5th BCE &
became widely practiced in
Chinese society
• Daoism did not reject
Confucianism outright, but rather
was able to coexist w/ the belief
system – this added to the complex
nature of Chinese society
Daoism – Main Beliefs
• Daoism (Taoism) is defined as “The Way” or
the “The Way of Nature” & is based on an
elusive concept regarding the principles that
governed the workings of the world
• The Dao is passive & yielding – yet
accomplishes everything – and concentrated
on finding a balance in nature (Yin & Yang)
• Daoist believe that humans should be yielding
to “The Way” and that activism & ambition
only bring chaos & disorder
• Humans should disengage from worldly
affairs & engage in a life that is in harmony
with nature
• Political involvement & education were UNnecessary in that balance w/ nature would
resolve all problems
• Advocated small, self-sufficient communities
Daoism – Broader Impact
• Daoist thought coexisted w/
Confucianism to create a belief in
communal & civic responsibility
along w/ time for personal reflection
• Daoism also promoted scientific
discovery in nature leading great
astronomers, chemists & botanists
• Daoism was concentrated mainly
in China & led to the complex
society that emerged there, but its
values have spread beyond China to
the wider world
• Many beliefs are compatible or
comparable to other religions
Judaism
Judaism - Origins
• Hebrews migrated from the Arabian
Peninsula & into Egypt around 1700 BCE –
many of whom were enslaved by the
Egyptians
• After Moses led the Hebrews from Egypt
in 1300 BCE (Exodus) he was given the Ten
Commandments & it was revealed that the
Hebrews were God’s chosen people
• Hebrews entered a covenant w/ God in
which they were forbidden to worship any
other gods & must follow the Ten
Commandments
• The Hebrews returned to Israel &
established a monarchy which reached its
peak under Kings David & Solomon around
1000 BCE
• Israel would be destroyed by the Assyrians
& Babylonians and incorporated into the
Greek & Roman Empires after 330 BCE –
caused the mass migration of much of the
population
Judaism – Main Beliefs
• Monotheism – there is only 1 God
• The task of humans is to honor &
serve God by following the Laws of
Moses as contained in the Torah (The
Old Testament)
• Judaism is centered around the belief
that Hebrews have a unique
relationship w/ God as the “chosen
people”
• Though there are many traditions &
rituals associated w/ Judaism, it is also
intended to preserve & maintain the
identity of a specific people (Jews) –
Judaism is a set of religious beliefs
AND a set of societal customs designed
to hold the Jewish people together
Judaism – Broader Impact
• Judaism was the first of the major
monotheistic religions (Christianity,
Islam, Judaism)
• Judaism, Islam & Christianity all have
common roots in Abraham & share many
similar characteristics & practices
• The beliefs of Judaism have been the
driving force behind the political
establishment & maintenance of the state
of Israel
• Judaism has NO “missionary” belief
regarding conversion of non-Jewish
people but rather is confined to a very
specific people & culture
Christianity
Christianity - Origins
• The first Christians were a splinter
group of Jews following the teachings of
Jesus Christ – a Jew born in Judea
(present-day Israel)
• The first followers of Jesus were all
Jews, but Paul began to spread the
beliefs to non-Jews within the Roman
Empire after Jesus’ death (around 30 CE)
– his followers compiled a body of
writings about his life & teachings (New
Testament)
• The Roman system of roads &
communication allowed for Christianity to
spread rapidly throughout the empire
after 40 CE
• Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of
Milan (313 CE) making Christianity legal
in the Roman Empire
• Due to the Silk Roads & later an active
missionary movement, Christianity
spread to all corners of the globe
Christianity – Main Beliefs
• Monotheistic – there is only one God & his
Son Jesus
• Jesus preached devotion to God and love &
compassion for fellow human beings
• All classes, genders & races are equal
before God & that the faithful would be
rewarded with eternal life in heaven w/ God
– made the religion very appealing to the
lower classes & women
• In order to be accepted into heaven, the
faithful must accept Jesus Christ as their
personal savior
• Christians practice a wide variety of rituals
intended to show their devotion & faith
• Many Christian beliefs have evolved into a
variety of branches of the same central
religion
Christianity – Broader Influence
• Due to its popularity w/ the lower classes
& women, by 300 CE Christianity was the
most influential religion in the
Mediterranean Basin
• After a period of persecution, Christianity
became legal and eventually the official
religion of the Roman Empire
• Christianity would have a huge impact on
the European Era of Exploration and the
colonization of the Americas
• Christianity has followers on every
continent & in most countries of the world
• Much of Christianity’s popularity has to
do w/ its missionary tradition of spreading
the religion to non-Christian people & its
historical connection to nation-states in
Europe